Battles has been a state representative since 2006. He would have faced Republican Bruce Borders in November. Borders is a former state representative whom Battles defeated by an 89-vote margin in 2012 when state redistricting threw them into the same district.

Battles says he is resigning to spend more time with his five grandsons. He says he doesn’t want his family to take a back seat to politics, but he’s grateful for his time in the Indiana General Assembly.